Fruit-drier tray.



Patented Apr. 8, [902.

.1. H. COLLINS. FRUIT DRIER TRAY.

(Application filed Apr. 5, 1901.)

' 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Modem 1': Norms PETERS co, woTo-umov, WASHINGTON, n. c

No. 697,237. Patented Apr. 8, I902.

J. H. COLLINS.

- FRUIT DRIER TRAY.

Application filed Apr. 5, 1901.) I (No Model.) J 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W/ TNE SSE S N VEMTOH (fwd/76b!!! 3, I BY No. 697,237. Patented Apr. 8,1902.

.1. H. COLLINS.

FRUIT DRIER TRAY.

(Application filed Apr. 5, 1901.\

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

W/ T/VE SSE S A TTOHN E Y8 NTTr; STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES HOOKER COLLINS, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

FRUIT-DRIER TRAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 697,237, dated April 8, 1902.

Application filed April 5, 1901. Serial No, 54,492. No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Beitknown that LJAMES HOOKER COLLINS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Nashville, in the county of Davidson and State of Tennessee, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit-Drier Trays, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in fruitdrier trays or trays designed especially for use in drying fruit; and the invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of part-s, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a number of the frames racked up by mounting them one upon the other. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of one of the frames. Fig. 3 is a partial cross-section on about line 3 3 of Fig. 2-, showing the hinged leg by which one side of the frame can be elevated. Fig. e is a detail cross-sectional view on about line 4 4: of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail elevation of .the outer side of one of the corners of the frame. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view illustrating the inner side of one corner of the frame. Fig. '7 is a detail bottom plan view of one corner of the frame. Fig. 8 is a detail top plan view of one corner of the frame, and Fig. 9 illustrates a simple manner of elevating the frames a few feet above the ground.

The several frames are constructed alike, so the description of one will answer for all.

The improved frame is made with cornerpieces A, which are flanged or socketed to form seats for the base and top rails B and O, and each corner-piece is provided in its upper side with a socket at D to receive the lower end E of a leg F, also provided on each corner-piece, so the frames can be racked one upon the other, as shown in Fig. 1, with the ends or tenons E of each frame resting in the socket D of the frame next below and the leg F of each frame resting upon the corner-piece of the frame next below, so the several frames of the rack will be held together in the desired relation, and space will be afforded between the several racks for the circulation of air, so the drying operation can proceed when the frames are racked. In constructing the corner-pieces it is preferred to form them with the upright side plates A at their outer sides, with the portions A at the juncture of the corner portion A as shown in Fig. 8.

plates A, as shown in Fig. 8, and with the base-flanges A forming seats for the rails B and C, the ends of which rails abut the solid 1 also prefer to core the corner-piece A and the leg and tenon which extend below and in alinement therewith, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l, as thereby I lighten the cornerpiece and furnish the socket at D to receive the tenon E on the lower end of the leg. F. The base-rails 13 rest upon the baseplates A of the corner-pieces and are rabbeted in their upper face from their inner edges to receive the foraminous bottom G. These bottom pieces may be of cane, wood, metal, or other material. It may be preferred to form the bottom of wire woven as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, and the bottom is secured within the rabbets of the base-rails by the top rails (J and the bolts H, which secure the rails together and to the cornerpieces and also pass through the bottom, as will be understood from Fig. 6. The top rails serve to prevent the fruit from falling off.

A central rail I extends from side to side of the frame below the bottom and operates to prevent the same from sagging. At one side of the frame I provide a hinged leg J, which is preferably hinged at J to the central cross-raill at a point near the side of the frame, so its opposite end J can be lowered to rest upon the ground to elevate one side of the frame to any desired degree to get the direct rays of the sun.

As shown in Fig. 9, several of the racks may be supported upon rods K, rested in forked uprights L, when it is desired to support the frames at a height of two or three feet from the ground. When so supported, the frames may rest with their legs extending below the rods K to prevent displacement of the frames, as will be understood from Fig. 9.

It will be understood from the drawings that the frames are so constructed that in case of rain during the day the frames can be easily and quickly racked up, as shown in Fig. 1, and covered or placed under shelter. When taken into the house at night,

the frames can be racked one upon the other to any desired height, taking up but very little space, and as there will be from three to four inches space between the frames when racked up the fruit will continue to dry in the house.

By this improvement troublesome scalfolds and the use of old shed-roofs can be dispensed with, the fruit can be dried in a short time, will be kept perfectly clean and free from trash, and will when dried be much brighter. and better than that ordinarily secured.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The herein-described drying-frame composed of the corner-pieces having the cornerblocks, and the legs depending therefrom and provided at their lower ends with tenons E, and having such corner-blocks, legs and tenons cored providing sockets in the upper end of the corner-blocks to receive tenons on a mating frame, such corner-pieces being provided with upright side plates and with inwardly-projecting base-plates, the base and top rails fitting to said corner-pieces and abutting at their ends against the cornerblocks, and the base-rails being supported at their lower ends on the base-flanges of the said corner-pieces and having in their upper faces rabbets extending from their inner edges, the foraminous bottom resting at, its edges in said rabbet and below the top rails,

and the bolts securing the parts together, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a drying-frame, a corner-piece provided in its upper end with a socket and at its lower end with a depending leg adapted to rest upon the next lower corner-piece and having aprojecting tenon to fit within and formed to turn in the socket of said next lower corner-piece when the frames are racked'together whereby in racking the frames together,a projecting tenon on the uppermost frame may be fitted in the proper socket of the top frame of the pile and swung on said tenon as a pivot to bring the frame into full register with those already racked, substantially as set forth.

3. A drying-frame composed of the rails, the corner-pieces having seats for said rails, the foraminous bottom, the bracing-rail extending below said bottom between the sides of the frame, and the leg pivoted to said bracing-rail near the side of the frame and arranged for adjustment to elevate such side of the frame, substantially as set forth.

4:. The combination in a drying-frame, of the corner-pieces having corner-blocks and base and side flanges projecting therefrom and arranged to form seats for the rails, the baserails fitted to said seats resting upon the baseflanges and abutting at their ends the corner-blocks, the foraminous bottom resting upon the base-rails, the top rails resting over the foraminous bottom, and the securing devices, substantially as set forth. 1

5. Adrying-framecomprisingcorner-posts, having upright portions and lateral horizontal seat-plates for the rails, the rails secured upon the said seat-plates, and a foraminous bottom, substantially as set forth.

6. A drying-frame comprising the rails, the foraminous bottom, the corner-pieces having upright portions provided at one end with the sockets and at their other ends with the tenons, to enter the sockets of the next frame, and also provided with lateral seats for the rails, substantially as set forth.

JAMES HOOKER COLLINS.

Witnesses:

J AS. K. POLK, R. L. BASKETTE. 

